Paulauskas' number two had been his fellow Lithuanian, Rimantas Grigas, the recently-appointed coach of the Belarus women's team.

"Everyone can see that in the upcoming season the roster of UMMC includes a sufficient number of players with WNBA experience - actually the biggest number in the club's history ever, I would say," UMMC general manager Maxim Ryabkov said to Basketball World News.

"This is the main reason why we decided to invite a coach with the basketball background which is similar to the background of most of our players - and our decision is Olaf Lange with the help of Sandy Brondello.

"This coaching duo got a huge experience inside one of the leading WNBA club San Antonio Silver Stars working with (WNBA coaches) Brian Agler and Dan Hughes and having the opportunity to guide the team during Dan's absence for a time.

"Olaf Lange and Sandy Brondello are respected by the players and can talk to the team in the same basketball language.

"Olaf Lange will start the pre-season work at UMMC camp in early September and Sandy Brondello will join the team as soon as the WNBA season is over for her current club, the Los Angeles Sparks, where she is working as an assistant this summer."

UMMC won the title in 2003 but haven't captured the trophy since although they have won numerous titles in Russia.

Ekaterinburg finished third at the EuroLeague Women Final Fours in 2008, '09, '10 and '11, and they also came in third this season at the inaugural Final Eight in Istanbul.